1 June 2019
Here's our waste management news roundup for June 2019
The Monthly Waste Management News Roundup - June
New glass recycling plant to process one billion glass bottles annually
Victorian Government Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio has officially opened Alex Fraser's new high recycled technolgy asphalt plant and innovative glass recycling plant. Alex Fraser Managing Director Peter Murphy said the new facilities incorporated design features to improve resource recovery and increase recycled content in construction materials. The high reycled asphalt plant uses recycled...
Downer opens soft plastics asphalt plant in Lake Macquarie
Plastic bags, recycled glass and printer toner will be used in the construction of new Hunter roads as part of a $5 million overhaul of Downer's asphalt plant in Teralba, Lake Macquarie. Every kilometre of two-lane road made with Reconophalt contains the equivalent of 530,000 plastic bags, 168,000 glass bottles and 12,500 toner cartridges. The facility is one of the most advanced of its kind in Australia, capable of...
Single-use items to be phased out of Sydney venues and events
The City of Sydney has committed to phasing out seven single-use items in its buildings, as its own venues and at events within the city as part of a pledge supported by more than 30 businesses so far. The council will eliminate or reduce the use of bottled water, plastic straws, plastic serve ware, expanded polysterene, plastic utensils, promotional flyers, plastic single-use giveaways and sampling...
Woolworths implements food waste diversion programs in 100% of its supermarkets
In an effort to tackle the $20 billion Australian food waste problem, Woolworths have implemented active food waste diversion programs in 100 per cent of its supermarkets. Woolsworths Head of Sustainability Adrian Cullen said the company have recorded an eight per cent year-on-year reduction in food waste sent to land over the past three years. "Food is meant to be eaten, not thrown...
Deakin researchers develop concrete solution for recycled glass
Deaken researchers have found a new use for old glass - grinding it up as a substitute for sand to make a type of concrete commonly used in the construction industry. The Deakin School of Engineering researchers have discovered ground recycled or waste glass can be used instead of sand when making polymer concrete, a material often used in industrial flooring. Dr. Riyadh Al-Ameri, senior engineering...
Scientists repurposes waste into recyclable plastics
Scientists at Deakin University and the University of Sydney have conducted separate research projects to find new uses for waste by turning it into plastics with various uses.On June 14, Deakin University shared the research a team of textile and fibre scientists at the Institute for Frontier Materials conducted to turn plant waste into a biodegradable material that could replace plastics used for packaging...
Single-use plastic bags banned across Victoria from November 1
Single-use plastic bags will be banned across Victoria from November 1, 2019, the Victorian government announced on June 19. Under new legalisation all single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags with a thickness of 35 microns or less will be banned, including bags made from degradable, biodegradable and compostable plastic. In a statement, Minister for Environment, Lily D’Ambrosio, said the ban was...
ALDI announces new packaging commitments
ALDI Australia has announced it will cut a quarter of all plastic packaging from its range by 2025, as part of a wide range of new packaging commitments. ALDI Australia Managing Director Buying Oliver Bongardt made the announcement in front of 100 ALDI business partners at a supplier forum this week. “In an act of transparency and authenticity, ALDI has committed to annually report on its progress towards...
Coca-Cola produces first recycled carbonated soft drink bottle
Coca-Cola Amatil has produced Australia's first carbonated soft drink bottles made from 100 percent recycled plastic. Following this development, the company announed all single-serve plastic bottles in Australia would switch to fully recycled material by the end of 2019. Group Managing Director Alison Watkins said while 100 per cent recycled plastic had previously been used in still beverages, it had...